Pick me I'm now a bar league pool player because I don't have a 4 1/2' x 9' table within 120 miles one way .
When I did stop in at Brothers Billards where they do have both 7' and 9' tables a friend offered to playa few racks of 8 ball on a 9' table , it had only been 25 years or close to it since I last played on a 9' table at that time because of family obligations .
When it was said and done I won more games than I lost . later on I played in the Big Sky State Games Senior Division and finished 4th out of 35 players , yes those matches were played on bar diamond bar tables at best around home all I've got to play on regularly are valley tables not my favorite but such is life .
As for gambling I do when its a tournament and I've placed in the money more times than not even when there's been so called or self proclaimed " road players " entered .
Many years ago when I lived near the Hardin Corner Pocket and yes in those days I played on the 4 1/2' x 9' tables instead of the bar boxes I was asked to come down to a bar downtown as two " road players " were beating everyone for whatever they had been playing for .
One was called Dakota the other Meryl it was a double elimination tournament the game 9 ball single game and the entry fee wasn't to much $ 10.00 maybe $15.00 ? Anyway I played and beat the locals and then I had to play Dakota and Meryl long story short I walked out with the cash and both of them shook my hand and they both said they had under estimated me , sadly we never got to play again and I believe both are long gone before their time .
Even the bar this took place in also is gone its a Memorial Park for a fallen Police officer who also was a friend of mine back in those days , even the Corner Pocket is a empty building and the owners have also passed away .